Cape Lookout Hike

Last Saturday we went with some friends from our ward at church out to Cape Lookout, just a few miles south of Tillamook and hiked a total of 5 miles!  It was about 2.5 to the end of the trail which overlooks the Ocean and 2.5 back.  We had originally thought we would be hiking the shorter trail that ends at the beach, but somehow got the longer, muddy trail instead.  So we were a little dissappointed in that, but it was still fun and gorgeous out and we had a view of the coast and ocean most of the trail! I love the Oregon Coast.  It is so pretty.  Next time we drive all the way out to the coast though, you can bet we will be going straight to the beach and water.   John carried Bear in the hiking backpack and Jackson walked/ran the whole way! He was a trooper and loved it! I couldn't believe how much energy he had.  He didn't complain a single bit! In fact, he was still singing and throwing rocks by the end when the rest of us were beat.  Gotta love the energy of a  year old!  

The best part of the day?  Ending up at the Tillamook Cheese Factory for some delicious grilled cheese sandwhiches and ice cream of course! 

 Bear was pretty pooped by the end of the trail and took a nice little nap.... it's hard work being carried 5 miles :)

Got 1 minute and 2 seconds?

Please excuse the yawn towards the beginning. 

Happy Sunday! 

Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum

We decided our boys are too hooked on TV, Jackson especially.  I try to not to let them watch too much, and we generally go without cable so we don't watch too much, except during football season (GO DUCKS!) and a small time for March Madness of course.  We have often talked about getting rid of our TV altogether (well at least in the front room) and just getting a projector for movies.  My mom hardly ever let us watch any TV (just movies on Friday/Saturday nights really), and we use to complain so much how deprived we were... I have since thanked her for that and vowed to follow her path.

Putting the TV on time-out for Jackson has been a great motivator for him to have a better attitude, be more obedient, etc.  A few weeks ago, the TV happened to be on and I was trying to talk to Jackson.  He repeatedly ignored every single word I said.  And then I walked in front of the TV and he told me to move because I was blocking it.   That was the last straw.  I put TV on timeout then and there for 3 days completely until after their Father's and Sons campout.  The night they got home from that, they both were kind of giving us attitude and then when we went to pick him up from a friends house that night (since it was date night for us), Jackson wouldn't even say hi to us or turn away from the show they were all watching there.  So TV went back on time-out for the rest of the weekend.

 On Monday (2 weeks before Memorial Day), I had an idea.  We had talked about wanting to do something really fun for Memorial Day Weekend and had decided we really wanted to take the boys to the Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville.  This place is not cheap however, and I didn't feel like taking them while they were giving us tons of attitude, talking back and having no respect.

So, for FHE that night we talked about being obedient and respectful and how the TV can be a fun privilege every now and then, but not an automatic go-to when we're bored.  Then I showed them online the pictures of the Aviation and Space Museum and said that if they went without TV for 12 more days and they started being more obedient and respectful to mom and dad that we would go there as a family at the end of the 12 days.  They were luckily all for that plan once I showed them the museum pictures.  We even made one of those circle chains so they could cut one off each day and see how close to the museum we were.

They made it, and even though they had their bad moments (after all they are 4.5 and 2.5 years old), a quick reminder of not going to the museum got them back in line.  I am so glad we did this.  It made that day so much more fun to celebrate together and it definitely made family life at home happier and better for us all.  We had a GREAT time at the museum! I am SO glad we went! We even got some sunny weather so we could explore the Tank Lawn and play on the Space Playground outside!  It was a great way to celebrate the memorial day weekend. And we have TONS of great pictures to document our fun day together.

Can you see us in the next picture? You may have to click on it... that's the Spruce Goose behind us (well only part of it!).  It was SO BIG! It took up most of the room.  It was so neat to see!!

 I LOVE this picture of my boys... aren't they so handsome?! =)  Plus, it is totally coincidence that Baron is wearing his Angels shirt and I got just "Angels" in this picture. haha.

 And the highlight for the boys was of course the airplane ride there.... I think they would have ridden it all day long if we'd had let them.

 This picture makes me smile... Jackson just had to check the bottom of the rockets to see where the fire comes out. It was pretty neat to see the rockets and space launch stuff.

 Why can't they ever look at the same time?  I may have to combine these 2 pictures.

After the Museum it was time for a Mommy/Daddy treat.... so we headed to the outlets to score some amazing deals on some new work clothes and summer clothes.  We were definitely exhausted by the end of the day, but it was a wonderful day!  Monday we also had a small bit of sun and had a delicious BBQ and played some serious Wii with some of our best buddies, The Jensen's.  I love 3 day weekends! And I am SO grateful to have a weekend to appreciate all those who served and fought in the past for our freedoms in this country and to keep us safe as well as all those who are continuing to serve and protect us today.  A GIGANTIC THANK YOU TO THEM!!!

Jackson at 4.5

I realized I have not done any updates about the boys lately and figured since they are now 4 1/2 and 2 1/2, it would be a good time to do so, especially for our family journal.  I have been thinking a lot about them lately and how much they have each changed.  I love these little boys.  They are SO MUCH FUN!! They are into new things all the time and are the ultimate boys.  Nothing makes them happier than camping, running around at the park, playing "superheroes" and "Bad Guys"with their capes and anything around the house that can be turned into a sword or gun.   I've been really noticing lately though their qualities and strong points that are coming out more and more the older they get, so I really wanted to write about those, as well as what they are like together.  I'll start this post with Jackson and do Baron's next month when he is officially 2 1/2.


ACTION JACKSON.... aka, FELITO

**He has renamed himself as Felito and even introduces himself at the park as so.  We have no idea where it came from, but he's been pretty consistent on reminding everyone that is his name for the past month or so.  Not sure how I feel about that. 






**We have really noticed lately, that one of his best qualities is his memory and attention to detail.  When we reminisce with him about a past event, he always amazes us by the types of things about that event/day that he remembers.  While the rest of us talk about "that museum, or the movie or the toy," he remembers what everyone was wearing, something funny someone had said, what we ate, who or what else was there, and lots of little details we don't even think to remember.  It's a great quality to have! I hope it keeps up!

**A TALKER.... have you ever been on Skype with him??  When he gets excited about something or seeing someone, he will not. stop. talking.  Poor Baron can hardly get a, "hi" in to my family when we skype.  My parents just laugh because they say it reminds them exactly of me and say that is exactly why Brittany was so shy when she was young... she just could never get a chance to say anything! My bad. 

**Loves to draw.  This is shocking.  He is our child who would bring home a blank coloring page from nursery week after week.  He never liked to color.  However, since he has learned to draw actual objects and subjects and especially with a pen, he has not stopped.  He will fill page after page with people, fish, shapes, robots, "transformers" and all kinds of stuff.  He loves it.  It reminds me so much of his daddy... John is always drawing furniture designs and random doodles.... I love it, especially because I absolutely cannot draw.  Even my stick figures are a disgrace.   I have always wished I could draw.  Jackson's attention to detail also comes into play here.  Even his fish have stripes and eyes and the smallest details you wouldn't normally as a 4 year old think to add onto your picture.  Maybe one day he will be an artist, or an architect!

**LOVES sports still and is coordinated.  I have probably mentioned it before, but I LOVE this! It is the one area I have no shame in bragging about. John and I both grew up playing lots of sports and having parents who were coordinated.  My dad taught us everything, from how to catch and throw a baseball, to playing tennis, smash ball at the beach, even roller bladding and hockey and everything in between! I love that Jackson loves learning and playing all sports too.  Just yesterday him and I played frisbee together at the park for half an hour... and it was fun! We were a good 15-20 feet apart and we could really actually play catch.  He could throw it right to me and then catch my throw.  What other 4 year old can do that so well??  (I told you I feel no shame in bragging about this... it makes me so proud)  =)  He is also still doing REALLY well in swimming.  He can now officially swim across the entire lap pool and is learning how to dive, loves loves loves jumping off the diving board, and his specialty strokes are backstroke and elementary backstroke (the one that looks like a frog).  He could do those perfectly forever, and he loves being in the water.  Makes his Grandma Sue proud!

(He is often found walking around with his sword in shirt like this- because "I'm a Ninja Turtle" as he puts it)

**Loves primary and loves to sing the primary songs.  He walks around singing them all day.  I love that he can sing some of them with the correct words now and for the whole song.  His favorites are "I will follow God's plan, Scripture Power, and Follow the Prophet."  I will post a video on here sometime of his cute little falsetto voice seeing one of these songs... but for now, here is him making up his own music.  Can you tell what he is into these days?  And sorry it is sideways... not sure how to fix that. 

We sure love our Jackson Jeffrey! He is tons of fun to have around!!

A trip down memory lane...

Tonight we get to go to the temple... a young couple our age in our ward is going through the temple for the first time together.  It's a sweet story.... girl meets boy, introduces him to the gospel, he listens to the missionaries and feels the spirit, gets baptized, girl and boy fall desperately in love and get married a few months after his baptism.  Now, a year later, they are going through the temple tonight for their endowments and then being sealed together for time and all eternity tomorrow.  I am so happy and excited for them.  As I was looking through our pictures for something else, I came across this picture:

This is the night I went through the temple for my first time just 3 days before John and I were married in the San Diego, CA temple/castle =).  Having this young couple's special night already in my mind, seeing this picture brought back those wonderful memories I will never forget.  It was such a special night with the  spirit so strong.  I can't even begin to describe what it was like to be in the temple with not only my prince charming, but also with all my family and soon to be family there to support me.  I couldn't have asked for a better night.  I will never ever forget it.  I am so glad I married a man who also only wanted a temple marriage and who already had a great love and strong testimony for the importance of temple work, even before we were dating.  It was one of the things that helped me fall in love with him the most and is still something I love about him.  He's the best.  I love going back to the temple with him often... it's my favorite kind of date night.  :)


p.s.   not everyone that was there with us that night got into this picture... I think we remembered to take pictures a little too late and a lot of family, especially those with kids at home, had already had to leave.  I wish I had everyone in there... especially my other grandparents! I do have them in lots of wedding day pictures at the same temple at least.  And I wish I still had those shoes.... seeing them reminded me how much I loved them. What happened to them?? Brittany?? haha... you know I am teasing you :)  I have no idea where they went. Bummer.

Camping at the Oregon Coast

Here's the last of Colby's trip.... our Coast Camp Trip!  We were SO lucky to not have any rain... it was still pretty chilly, but no rain in April is a miracle! It was SO much fun!  We saw so many gorgeous sites! I LOVE how pretty Oregon is!!  Here are the pictures from the weekend:


First was a stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory